After battling alien life forms in this fall’s The Thing prequel, Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim vs The World) could sure use a drink. So it’s fitting that Winstead’s in negotiations to join the indie drama Smashed, which focuses on a married couple who are brought together by booze. Completing the partnership is Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) who is no stranger to portraying a man with an addiction. I’d imagine that Paul’s character in Smashed will be slightly less tweaked out than the meth-cooking Jesse, as he will be romancing Winstead and seducing her with his passion for alcohol. Loosely based off of the 1962 film, Days of Wine and Roses, Smashed explores what happens to their relationship when Winstead’s character makes a move towards sobriety and attends AA. James Ponsoldt (Off the Black) will direct from a script co-written with Susan Burke. Hit the jump for more of the stellar cast of Smashed.

In addition to Winstead and Paul, Variety reports that Octavia Spencer (The Help) and Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) are also in negotiations. Spencer is vying for the role of Winstead’s sponsor and close friend (and may soon be adding “award-winning” the front of her name for her role in The Help). Offerman would be playing the assistant principal at the elementary school where Winstead’s character teaches. I for one hope his portrayal is a direct clone of Ron Swanson.

Winstead can next be seen in the aforementioned The Thing, followed by Timur Bekmambetov’s Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.  Paul has just wrapped on the indie film “Quad” and can currently be seen on this season of AMC’c Breaking Bad. Offerman, who recently joined Lionsgate’s Gay Dude can next be seen alongside Will Ferrell in Casa de mi Padre. Super Crispy Entertainment production of Smashed is set to begin in early November.